Bristly Hawkbit

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Ensina sonchi feeds within capitulum of Leontodon hispidus

Foodplant / spot causer
amphigenous colony of Ramularia hyphomycetous anamorph of Mycosphaerella hieracii causes spots on live leaf of Leontodon hispidus

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Paroxyna producta feeds within capitulum of Leontodon hispidus
Remarks: Other: uncertain

Foodplant / parasite
Podosphaera fusca parasitises live Leontodon hispidus

Foodplant / parasite
uredium of Puccinia hieracii var. hieracii parasitises live leaf of Leontodon hispidus

Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Tephritis leontodontis feeds on capitulum of Leontodon hispidus

Leontodon hispidus has been reported in eastern North America. It is recognized by the solitary heads, coarsely hispid leaves and peduncles, and pappi with long plumose and short non-plumose bristles. It is often confused with L. saxatilis, in which the pappi of the outermost cypselae are reduced to crowns. Leontodon hirtus Linnaeus has been reported from various locations in North America; the specimens appear to be assignable to L. hispidus Linnaeus.

Perennials, 10–60 cm. Stems 1–6. usually simple, scapiform, sometimes branched, glabrous or bristly hispid. Leaves: blades oblanceolate, 6–30 × 0.5–4 cm, margins coarsely dentate to deeply lobed (lobes straight, often narrowly triangular, terminal lobes usually large), faces usually coarsely hispid or hirsute, hairs often 2–3-fid. Heads usually borne singly. Peduncles ebracteate. Calyculi of 10–12, subulate bractlets 1–3 mm, glabrous or densely hirsute. Involucres campanulate, 7–13 × 10–15 mm. Phyllaries 12–16, linear-lanceolate, 6–10 mm, subequal, glabrate to coarsely hispid or hirsute. Florets 30–50+; corollas bright yellow or outermost orange or reddish, 12–15 mm. Cypselae fusiform, 6–12 mm (sometimes narrowed distally and weakly beaked); pappi pale brown, mixed: outer series of bristlelike scales, inner of plumose bristles. 2n = 14.

Leontodon hastilis Linnaeus

Leontodon hispidus is a species of hawkbit known by the common names bristly hawkbit and rough hawkbit. It is native to Europe but can be found throughout North America as an introduced species.

It ranked first place among the "non-weed" perennials examined in a recent British study for meadow flora nectar productivity. Its production was almost twice as high as the best-ranking annual that was not considered a weed. Certain plants classed as weeds (including ragwort, bull thistle, and creeping thistle) produced the most nectar of all.